An anatomical study of the right bronchial tree using multi-detector computed tomography.

PURPOSE: The aims were to study the pattern of right bronchial tree with multi-detector CT.

METHODS

238 patients were enrolled. The three-dimensional bronchial tree images were acquired using the post-processing technique of CT.

RESULTS

There were mainly four types for right superior lobe bronchial tree, i.e., (140/238, B1-B2-B3); (44/238, B1 + 2, B3); (28/238, B2, B3); (22/238, B1, B2 + 3). There were two types for right middle lobe bronchial tree, i.e. (229/238, B4, B5); trifurcation of right middle lobe bronchi (9/238). There were mainly four types for right inferior lobe bronchial tree, i.e., (135/238, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10); (42/238, B6, B7, B8, B10); (25/238, B6, B7, B8 + 9, B10); (21/238, B6, B7, B8-B9-B10).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study describes variations in the anatomy of the right bronchial tree, and reveals that there were mainly four types for right superior lobe bronchial tree, two types for right middle lobe bronchial tree, and four types for right inferior lobe bronchial tree.